Calling to Canada
- A leading ‘1’ is included in the international call sequence. It doubles as a trunk prefix for domestic long distance calls.
- A leading '+' in the phone number means 'dial your country's exit code'.
- Calling from a mobile phone: dial from on the country where you're currently located.
- Calling from a VoIP or satellite phone: dial from on the country where the phone is registered.
… to a mobile (cellular) phone or text (sms)
Use the same call sequence.
When calling a mobile phone user, dial to the country where the mobile phone is registered, regardless of where the person is roaming.
… to a VoIP phone
Use the same call sequence.
When calling a VoIP phone user, dial to the country where the VoIP phone is registered, regardless of where the person is roaming.
… to a satellite phone
Canada does not have a country-specific satellite phone system.
Most satellite phones operate on their country code – calls to these satellite phones follow their call sequence.
… sending a fax
Use the same call sequence.
Calling within Canada (domestic dialing)
‘1’ is used as a long distance trunk prefix (it also doubles as the country code) to call long distance.
Most phone calls within the same metropolitan area (even across provincial lines) are within the local calling area. Calls to another metro area are to a different local calling area. Local calling areas can overflow into neighboring provinces and area codes.
When unsure of which call sequence to use, first try the long distance sequence. If the call is dialed improperly, the phone system is designed to reply with a message. If the local call sequence should have been dialed the local rate will be charged for the call.
Local calling (within a local calling area) – seven-digit dialing (including to and from a mobile phone)
Regions with seven-digit dialing do not have any overlapping area codes (there is only one area code that can represent that region). Currently, the only non-overlapping area codes in Canada are: ‘867’ (Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut); ‘807’ (Northwestern Ontario); ‘506’ (New Brunswick); ‘902’ (Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island); and ‘709’ (Newfoundland and Labrador).
A call across a long distance even within a non-overlapping area code needs to be dialed with the leading ‘1’ and ten digit sequence, not the local calling sequence. (see long distance calling)
If it is not certain if the region is a seven digit or ten digit dialing region, the ten digit sequence will still work.
To dial the seven-digit sequence, dial only the local seven-digit phone number.
| seven digits |
| local phone number |
Local calling (within a local calling area) – ten-digit dialing (including to and from a mobile phone)
The ten digit dialing sequence is used to call to a phone number in the same local calling area when the region has more than one area codes representing the region. It can also be used when a neighboring area code is within the local calling area.
| three digits | seven digits |
| area code | local phone number |
Long distance calling (to a different calling area – including to and from a mobile phone)
To call to a different calling area, dial the trunk prefix ‘1’ (it also doubles as the international country code for countries in the NANP), followed by the area code, followed by the local phone number.
| 1 | three digits | seven digits |
| trunk prefix / country code | area code | local phone number |
Canadian phone numbers explained
Number details
Canadian phone numbers are ten digits (eleven including a leading ‘1’ that doubles as both the country code for the NANP and a long distance trunk prefix).
The first three digits are an area code representing a geographic part of the country. In many cities area codes overlap. The area code is often listed in brackets ().
Digits four to seven represent an exchange within the area code. Typically the exchange signifies a physical location or that the phone numbers starting with it are mobile phone numbers.
Mobile numbers and VoIP numbers are intermixed with land-line phone numbers. There are no mobile-specific or VoIP-specific area codes. Some exchanges within the area code may be designated mobile or VoIP. There is no consistent pattern.
Canada shares country code +1 with the regions of the NANP (including the United States, most of the regions of the Caribbean, and U.S. territories in the Pacific). Calls to countries within the NANP are dialed the same as a domestic Canadian long distance phone call, although international rate charges may apply.
An example of a Canadian phone number
The Parliament of Canada lists its phone number in Ottawa as 1-613-992-4793.
Number explanation
| 1 | 613 | 992 4793 |
| country code for Canada as well as the Canadian trunk prefix | area | local phone number within Ottawa |
Local example – calling from another location in Ottawa
The ten digit local calling sequence is dialed as the call is within a region with overlapping area codes. The trunk prefix (which doubles as the country code) is not dialed as it is within the local calling area.
| 613 | 992 4793 |
| area code for the Ottawa area | local phone number within Ottawa |
Long distance example – calling from Calgary, Canada (on the other side of the country)
To call long distance in Canada dial the trunk prefix (which doubles as the country code) ‘1’, then the area code, then the local phone number.
| 1 | 613 | 992 4793 |
| Canadian trunk prefix | area | local phone number within Ottawa |
International example – calling from the United States or another country of the NANP (most of the Caribbean and U.S. territories in the Pacific)
To call to Canada from a NANP country dial the country code/trunk prefix ‘1’, then the area code, then the local phone number.
| 1 | 613 | 992 4793 |
| long distance trunk prefix | area (geographic) code for Ottawa | local phone number in Ottawa |
International example – calling from a country outside of the NANP (Canada, most of the Caribbean, and U.S. Territories in the Pacific)
To call from a country from outside the NANP, dial the exit code of the country you’re calling from, then the NANP country code/trunk prefix of ‘1’, then the area code, then the local phone number.
| exit code | 1 | 613 | 992 4793 |
| exit code of the country the call is dialed from | country code for the North American Numbering Plan | area (geographic) code for Ottawa | local phone number in Ottawa |
Calling from Canada
… to another country in the North American Numbering Plan (NANP)
NANP countries include Canada, the United States (and associated territories), and most regions of the Caribbean.
Dial the phone call starting with the trunk prefix/country code of ‘1’, then the area code and local phone number.
… to all other regions of the world
‘011’ is used as an exit code when dialing an international phone call from Canada to a location outside the NANP calling region (the United States, Canada, most regions of the Caribbean, and U.S. Territories in the Pacific).
Sources and more resources
- National NANPA – The North American Numbering Plan Administration. Telecommunications numbering system regulator for numbering administration across the North American Numbering Plan.
- CNA (Canadian Numbering Administrator) – Canada’s telephone numbering administrator.
- Industry Canada – Internet Radio and Wireless – The Internet, Radio, and Wireless division of Industry Canada.
- CRTC (Canada Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission) – Canadian regulator of the telecommunications industry.
- ITU (International Telecommunications Union) – United Nations specialized agency for information and communications technologies.
- International Telecommunications Union – DIALLING PROCEDURES (INTERNATIONAL PREFIX, NATIONAL (TRUNK) PREFIX AND NATIONAL (SIGNIFICANT) NUMBER) (IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITU-T RECOMMENDATION E.164 (11/2010)) – A collection of dialing procedures for all countries and regions of the world. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
- International Telecommunications Union – Canada (country code +1) National Numbering Plan – Details of Canada’s telephone numbering plan as submitted to the ITU. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
- Wikipedia – Telephone numbers in Canada – Wikipedia entry for telephone number data for Canada’s calling plan within the North American Numbing Plan. Includes specific number ranges for each city as well as detail on calling procedures.
- BT – The Phonebook – Canada – Entry for Canada in the British Telecom international directory.